Image credit: Zachary Stewart/Q-101 Merritt

By Zachary Stewart-Q101

Rodeo Upgrades

Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds complete years worth of upgrades

Jun 8, 2023 | 9:52 AM

MERRRITT, B.C. — The Nicola Valley Rodeo Association (NVRA) have completed various electrical work at the grounds.

All the work completed has been in the works since 2011 when the NVRA was awarded a grant from the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program. The same year, Hack Electric, a local electrical company, was hired to carry out the project.

“The province’s help and encouragement in allowing us to carry out this very substantial upgrade really vaults our facility to one of the finest of its kind in B.C.,” Peter Spencer, NVRA president says.

The upgrades to the grounds include:

• 600-ampere underground wiring
• New electrical room
• Overhead lighting
  • Parking lot
  • Arena
  • Grandstand
  • Concourse
  • Horse stalls
• Sound system
• 30- and 50- amp power outlets
  • Food trucks
  • Campers
• Security system

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Along with those improvements, 36 solar panels were also installed on the roof of the main grandstand. The funding for the solar panels came from Farm Credit Canada’s Agri-Spirit Fund. Once again, these upgrades came from a local company, SEI Logistics, It is tied to BC Hydro’s grid and feeds the energy captured by the panels back into the grid with the resulting economic benefit credited to the NVRA as a set-off against its account.

Image credit: Nicola Valley Rodeo Association

Image credit: Nicola Valley Rodeo Association

“As a community, we’ve always been fortunate to have inherited this marvelous 22-acre site, which we share with the Fall Fair Association,” Spencer adds. “It’s not often that non-profit, volunteer organizations own something like this. It happened through the vision, generosity and hard work of a long list of Nicola Valley pioneers and members of this community. Now, we hope to capitalize on our legacy with improvements which not only make the grounds an excellent rodeo facility but also allow us to expand both the type of equine and agricultural activities but also promote displays, markets, camping and even concerts.”

Spencer said the arena, grandstands, and the announcer booths were originally designed primarily for rodeo events, but it has since grown to include many other events.